Pattern chain control means for knitting machines



Dec. 13, 1966 J. D. MOYER 3,290,903

PATTERN CHAIN CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. James 0 Ma er ATTORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1966 J. D. MOYER 3,290,903

PATTERN CHAIN CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 3, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

James D Mayer ATTORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1966 J. D. MOYER 3,290,903

PATTERN CHAIN CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet s FlE-m IGRAD. l6 COURSES F1. E-UEJM a/ a4 a2 72 @6 INVEN TOR. I05 1-6 James Meytl" ATTORNEY.

5 Sheets-She t 4 INVENTOR.

. James 9 M BY ATTORNEY.

J. D. MOYER Decl 1966 PATTERN CHAIN CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed 1964 Dec. 13, 1966 J. D. MOYER 3,290,903

PATTERN CHAIN CONTROL MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES BY 5 40A.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,290,903 PATTERN CHAEN CONTROL MEANS FOR KNIITTING MACHINES James D. Meyer, Wyomissing, Pa, assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 335,514 24 Claims. (Cl. 66-155) This invention relates to circular knitting machines and more particularly to the provision of means for changing the size of the stockings knitted on such machines.

conventionally, circular knitting machines are provided with pattern chains which not only control certain of the machine functions during each stocking knitting cycle but also control the number of courses to be formed in the various portions of the stockings. In the run-down or rotary knit portions of the stockings, such as the leg and foot, the chain is racked in steps equal to one-third of the length of each link of chain during four rotations of the needle cylinder of the machine. When a change in the foot size and the length of the leg is required, links are added to or removed from the chain. When it is considered that the machine may be required to knit stockings having six or more different foot sizes and three different leg lengths for each foot size it will be obvious that the addition and removal of chain links results in considerable increase in machine down time and loss of machine production.

Heretofore, in efforts to overcome this problem mech anisms have been proposed to effect size changes in the stockings by interrupting the racking movement of the chain for predetermined intervals to change the effective length of the chain. While such mechanism did to some extent eliminate the objectionable procedure of adding and removing chain links when a change in stocking size was required the mechanisms were both cumbersome in structure and limited in the number of different size changes that could be made.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a circular knitting machine with means for overcoming the above mentioned and other objections heretofore encountered in changing the size of the stockings knitted on the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for controlling the advancing movements of the course counting chain of a circular knitting machine which means is adapted at times to cause the chain to be advanced in steps of the same extent throughout a course counting cycle thereof to produce a stocking of predetermined size and at other times to cause the chain to be advanced in steps of a different extent during portions of the course counting cycle thereof to produce stockings of another size.

A further object is the provision of means for controlling the advancing movements of the course counting chain of a circular knitting machine which means includes a member having a first position for causing the chain to be advanced in steps of the same extent throughout a course counting cycle thereof and a second position for causing portions of the chain to be advanced in steps of a different extent to vary the effective length of the chain.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of contruction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as hereinafter more particularly pointed out. in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multifeed circular knitting ice machine having mechanism according to the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of the pattern chain of machine as viewed in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the control unit for the pattern chain according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of the control unit as seen from the left of FIG. 4 with a portion of casing of the unit removed;

FIG. 6 is a view partially in elevation and partially in cross section taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 7--7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with certain of the parts being shown in different operating positions;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but with the parts being shown in a further operating position;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 11-11 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view of operating mechanism for the control unit of the invention.

In the following description and in the drawings the invention is illustrated as incorporated in a multifeed knitting machine for the knitting of fine gauge hosiery, such machine being of the type of the Reading Mark IV machine manufactured by Textile Machine Works, the pattern chain construction and operation of which is generally shown in British Patent No. 790,141, published February 5, 1958, to which reference may be made for information as to the construction and operation of such parts. However, it will be understood that the invention is not to be considered as limited in use to such machine as it may be employed in other machines having more conventional pattern chain mechanisms for controlling the operation of the machines.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of a knitting machine including a needle cylinder 15 having slots for conventional needles (not shown) and yarn fingers 16 for feeding yarns to the needles at each of four knitting stations indicated as Feeds Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The machine is also provided with pattern drums 17 and 20 and a pattern chain 21 for controlling the operation of the various operating parts of the machine generally in the manner set forth in said British Patent No. 790,141. The pattern chain, 21, which includes a plurality of interconnected links 22, is trained around a driving sprocket 25 rotatably mounted on a stud 26 carried in a bracket 27 secured to a plate 30 forming a part of the framework of the machine, as shown in FIG. 2. The chain 21 is also trained around a plurality of idler sprockets (not shown).

conventionally the chain 21 is adapted to be advanced in steps equal to one-third the length of the links 22 for each four rotations of the cylinder 15 during rotary knitting. In accordance with the instant invention the chain is also adapted to be advanced at times in steps equal to two-thirds the length of a link'for purposes hereinafter set forth. For so advancing the chain, the sprocket 25 is provided with a ratchet portion 31 having teeth 32 which have a pitch also equal to one-third the length of a link 22. The teeth 32 are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 35 pivoted on a lever 36 which in turn is pivoted on the stud 26 and a spring 37 connected between the pawl and the lever maintains the pawl in engagement with the teeth 32. The free end of the lever 36 is connected by an adjustable link 40 to one arm 41 of a double arm crank 42 (FIG. 3) keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 45. Shaft 45 corresponds to and is oscillated in the same manner as shaft 220 set forth in said British Patent No. 790,141. However, where the shaft 220 in said British patent was adapted to move the pawl 367 to advance the ratchet wheel 351 a distance of one tooth or one-third link of the chain 315, in the instant machine the shaft 45 is adapted to move the pawl 35 to advance the ratchet 31 a distance of two teeth or two-thirds link of the chain 21. During each oscillation of the shaft 45, the lever 36 and pawl 35 are first moved counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 through a distance equal to two teeth 32 to advance the chain and then are moved clockwise through the same distance of two teeth to reset the pawl for the next chain advancing movement.

When the chain is to be advanced in steps equal to a single tooth 32, the pawl 35 is adapted to be held out of engagement with the first of the two teeth during movement of the lever 36 in the counterclockwise direction and then is permitted to engage the second tooth to advance the chain. For this purpose the pawl 35 is disengaged from the second tooth during its clockwise or resetting movement by a camming surface 50 formed on a ring or hub portion 51 of a lever 52 rotatably mounted on the hub portion of ratchet 31 (FIG. 2). An arm 55 of the lever 52 is adapted to engage a stop member 56 secured to a fixed part 57 of the machine to position the camming surface 50, as shown in FIG. 2, and limit the chain advancing movement to steps of one tooth. A spring 60 connected between the arm 55 and the part 57 normally biases the arm 55 toward engagement with the stop member 56.

Initially the chain 21 is provided with sufiicient chain links 22 to form the number of courses required for the longest leg length and the greatest foot size of a stocking to be knit on the machine and for the knitting of such stocking the lever 52 is permitted to remain in its position of FIG. 2 throughout the stocking knitting cycle to limit the advance of the chain to movements of one tooth of the ratchet 31 and one-third link of the chain during each four rotations of the cylinder as above set forth. When it is desired to reduce the number of courses in leg and foot portions of the stockings to produce a smaller size, the lever 52 is turned clockwise from its position of FIG. 2, at the appropriate times, and for the appropriate periods necessary for the particular size reduction, desired, to remove the camming surface 50 from the path of the pawl 35 thereby permitting it to advance the ratchet 31 two teeth and two-thirds of a link during each oscillating movement of the lever 36. For so moving lever 52, arm 55 is connected by a link 61 to a core member 62 of a pull type solenoid 65 carried on the part 57 of the machine. As diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 2, solenoid 65 is in an electrical circuit including main leads 66 and 67. One end of the operating coil of the solenoid is connected by a conductor 70 to the main lead 66 and the other end of the operating coil is connected by a conductor 71 through a normally closed switch 72 to the other main lead 67. The switch 72 has an operating butt-on 73 which is adapted to be engaged and operated by means and in a manner hereinafter set forth, to hold the switch open and the solenoid 65 de-energized to permit the lever 52 to remain in its position of FIG. 2 when the chain is to be advanced in one-third link steps. When the chain is to be advanced in two-third link steps the button is released there-by permitting the switch to close and energize the solenoid to move the camming surface 50 of lever 52 out of the patch of the pawl.

The switch :72 forms a part of a control unit indicated generally at 75 (FIG. 4) which is preferably secured to a readily accessible part of the framework of the machine (FIG. 1). The unit 75 includes a housing 76 having a rear wall member 77 and a front wall member 811 which is secured to the rear wall member by the bolts 81 or the like, and a cover member 82. The switch 72 is secured by screws 83 to a bracket 84 which is in turn secured to the rear wall member 77 as by screws 85 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). A bearing member 86 is also secured to the wall member 77 as by screws 87 and both the wall and bearing member are bored as at 90 (FIG. 7) to rotatably receive an end portion 91 of a shaft 92. A ratchet wheel is keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the portion 91 of shaft 92 in abutting relation with a front face 96 of the bearing member 86 and a collar 94 fixed on the outer free end of the shaft portion and in abutting engagement with the rear wall member 77 maintains the shaft portion against axial movement in the bearing member.

The ratchet Wheel 95 is provided with a bearing portion 97 for pivotally mounting a lever 100 which in turn pivotally supports a pawl 101 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet Wheel. A spring 102 carried on the lever 100 and engaging the pawl 101 normally biases the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 95 (FIG. 6). The lever 100 is operated to move the pawl 101 through strokes to advance the ratchet wheel 95 during each four rotations of the needle cylinder by a Bowden wire 105, one end of which is connected to lever 100 and the other end of which is connected to one arm 106 of a bell crank 107. The bell crank is pivotally mounted on a pin 110 carried in a bracket 111 secured to a plate 113 forming a part of the machine frame (FIG. 12). A second arm 112 of the bell crank 107 is connected by a link 115 to an arm 116 of a lever 117 pivotally mounted on a pin 120 in a bracket 121 also secured to the plate 113. At its free end, arm 116 is provided with a follower portion 122 for engagement with a roller 125 carried on a collar 126 secured to a shaft 127. The shaft 127 is the so-called quarter-turn shaft of the machine and is continuously rotated through one complete rotation for each four rotations of the cylinder 15 in the usual manner.

The lever 117 has a second arm 130 which is provided with a nose portion 131 which is adapted to be acted on by a cam track 133 on the pattern drum 17 to position the lever and follower portion 122 for engagement with the roller 125 to operate pawl 101 and advance the ratchet wheel 95 in both one and two tooth steps in a manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth. A spring 132 connected between the bracket 111 and link 115 tends to bias lever 117 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 12, to maintain the nose portion 131 in engagement with the pattern drum 17.

As above set forth, the button 73 is operated to open the switch 72 when the chain 21 is to be advanced in onethird link steps and the button is released to permit the switch to close when the chain is to be advanced in twothird link steps. For opening the switch 72, the button 73 is adapted to be operated by a lever 136 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 137 in the bracket 84 (FIG. 6). The outer surface of lever 136 is recessed at 146 to provide a shoulder 141, for purposes hereinafter set forth, and the free end of the lever is provided with spaced fingers 142 and 143 which extend at substantially right angles from the body of the lever (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). The finger 142 of the lever is adapted to be acted on by a pin 145, carried on the ratchet wheel 95, to turn the lever clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, to operate the button 73 and open the switch 72. The lever 136 is also moved to its switch opening position by a pin 146 which acts on the finger 143, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

The pin 146 is carried in a flange 147 formed on the inner end of a sleeve-like member which is mounted on a second sleeve-like member 151 (FIG. 7) and the latter member is in turn mounted on a portion 149 of the shaft 92 at the opposite end thereof from shaft portion 91. The member 150 is provided with a tapered bore and the member 151 has a correspondingly tapered outer surface which act when in interfitting engagement to frictionally lock the sleeves together for rotative movement and which permit the sleeves to be rotated relative to each other when the tapered surfaces are disengaged. The

member 151 is also provided with a tapered bore and the portion 14-9 of shaft 92 has a correspondingly tapered outer surface which act when in interfitting engagement to frictionally lock the member 151 and shaft together for rotative movement and which permit the member and shaft to be rotated relative to each other when the tapered surfaces are disengaged for purposes and in a manner hereinafter set forth.

At its outer end the sleeve 150 carries a knob 152. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral surface of the knob 152 is provided with a line mark 155 for cooperation with a series of radially extending line markings 156 formed on the outer face of the cover member 82 or on a plate attached thereto. The line markings 156 which are suitably numbered from to 35, are spaced from each other a distance equal to the distance between two teeth of the ratchet wheel 95 and each marking represents a change of one-third link in the effective length of chain 21 and sixteen courses in the length of the stocking fabric.

The lever 136 is also adapted to be moved clockwise to operate the button 73 and open the switch 72 by a lever 157 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 160 also carried on the bracket 84. The side edge of the lever 157 adjacent lever 136 has a high surface 161 and a low surface 162 which are joined by a vertically extending surface 165. The lever 157 is also provided with a finger 166 which projects at substantially right angles therefrom and which lies between the fingers 142 and 143 on the lever 136 (FIGS. 6 and 7). A spring 167 connected between the lever 157 and a collar 170 secured to the outer end of the pin 160 normally tends to bias the lever counterclockwise to a rest position against a stop pin 171 on the bracket 84, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. A cam flange 175 on the inner end of the member 151 is adapted to be moved into engagement with the finger 166 to turn lever 157 clockwise from its rest position of FIG. 6. During the initial part of the clockwise movement of lever 157 by flange 175, the high surface of lever 157, which extends slightly beyond the shoulder 141 on the lever 136 as shown in FIG. 9, engages and also moves the latter lever clockwise to operate the button 73 to open switch 72. Thereafter, as the flange continues to move both levers 136 and 157 clockwise, the surface 165 is aligned with and then moved into overlapping engagement with the surface of shoulder 141 on the lever 136, as shown in FIG. 10. In this position, the relation of the surface 165 and the surface of the shoulder 141 is such as to latch or hold the levers 136 and 157 in the switch opening position when the flange 175 is moved out of engagement with the finger 166 on lever 157, as hereinafter set forth. The levers 136 and 157 are maintained in their latched condition until the pin 1 15 on the ratchet wheel 95 is moved into engagement with the finger 1 12 on lever 136 which turns the lever 136 slightly clockwise from the position of FIG. to release or disengage the shoulder 141 from the surface 165 thereby permitting spring 167 to again return the lever 157 to its rest position of FIG. 6.

At its outer end, the member 151 also carries a knob 176. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral surface of the knob 176 is provided with a line marking 177 for cooperation with a series of radially extending line markings 178 formed on the outer face of the knob 152. The markings 178, which are suitably numbered from 0 to 15, are also spaced from each other a distance equal to the distance between two teeth of the ratchet'wheel 95 and each marking represents a change of one-third link in the effective length of chain 21 and sixteen courses in the length of the stocking fabric.

As above set forth, when the tapered surfaces between the members 151) and 151 and between the member 151 and the shaft portion 149 are in engagement the members 150 and 151 will rotate with the shaft 92 and ratchet wheel 95 and when the various tapered surfaces are disengaged member 150 may be rotated relative to member 151 and the latter may be rotated relative to the shaft and ratchet wheel. In order to release or disengage the tapered surfaces between the shaft 92- and member 151, the member is given a slight axial movement toward the left as viewed in FIG. 7 by pressing on the knob 176. At this time, the member and knob 152 will also be moved to the left by the member 151 but since the movemerit of member 151 is slight and at best only suflicient to bring the rear face of knob 152 into contact with the front face of cover member 82 the tapered surfaces between the members 150 and 151 remain in frictional engagement. The knob 176 may then be turned to simultaneously adjust both members 150 and 151 relative to the shaft 92 and ratchet wheel 95. When it is desired to adjust both members and 151 relative to the ratchet wheel 95 and also relative to each other, the member 151 is again moved axially toward the left to release the tapered surfaces between the member 151 and shaft 92 and until the knob 152 on the sleeve 150 engages the front face of the cover member 85. Then with a slight additional movement of member 151 to the left the tapered outer surface on the latter is also released from the tapered surface on the member 150. The member 151 may then be adjusted relative to the member 151 and if desired both members may be independently adjusted relative to the shaft 92 and ratchet wheel 95. Following release of the various tapered surfaces and adjustment of the members 151 and 151 as above set forth, the members are returned to their positions of FIG. 7 to re-engage the tapered surfaces by a spring 180 which is positioned on the shaft 22 between the ratchet wheel 95 and the'inner end of the member 151 and a spring 181 positioned in the member 151 between the knob 176 thereon and the end of the shaft 92, as shown in FIG. 7.

At the start of a course counting cycle of the chain to knit a stocking fabric, the lever 117 is initially positioned by a high portion of the cam track 133 to limit the pawl 101 to single tooth movements and the ratchet wheel is idled in starting position by engagement of the pawl with an idling space 182 which is formed in the ratchet wheel by removing one of the teeth thereof (FIGS. 6 and 12). Also at this time the pin 145 on the ratchet wheel 95 is in engagement with the finger 14-2 to position lever 136 to open switch 72 and position lever 52 as in FIG. 2 to limit the chain advancing movements of the pawl 35 to one tooth of the ratchet 31 or one-third link of the chain. for purposes of illustration, the members 1511 and 151 may be adjusted, by their knobs 152 and 17 6 respectively, relative to the shaft 92 and ratchet wheel 95 and relative to each other, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, knob 152 being turned to its position 10 to adjust member 151) to reduce the effective length of the chain by three and one-third links and to reduce the length of the leg portion of the stocking by the number of courses otherwise resulting therefrom, and knob 176 being turned to its position 5 to adjust the member 151 to reduce the effective length of the chain an additional one and two-third links to reduce the foot length by the number of courses otherwise resulting therefrom.

In the appropriate part of the course counting cycle of the chain, i.e. the part of the cycle controlling the formation of the leg of the stocking, the pattern drum 17 is advanced to align a low point 136 of the cam track on the drum 17 with the nose portion 131 thereby permitting spring 132 to turn lever 117 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 12, to a stop position determined by engagement of a finger 187 projecting from the lever with a stop screw 190 adjustably carried in the bracket 121. During this clockwise movement of lever 117, a spring 191 connected between the lever 101) and the wall member 77, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, turns the lever 11311 clockwise through a distance sufficient to move the pawl 161 out of the idling space 182 and into engagement with the next tooth in the ratchet wheel 55. Thereupon, when the roller 125 engages follower portion 122, the lever 117 is turned counterclockwise to move lever 11M) and pawl 101 counterclockwise to advance the ratchet wheel 95 a distance of two teeth to start the ratchet wheel. Simultaneously with the starting movement of the ratchet wheel the pin 145 moves out of engagement with the finger 142. of lever 136 thereby permitting the button 73 of the switch 72 to move to its switch closing position to energize and operate the solenoid 65 to move lever 52 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, to remove the camming surface 56 from the path of the pawl 35 and permit it to advance the chain 21 in two-third link steps. Following the initial two tooth movement of the pawl 101 to start the ratchet wheel 95, the pattern drum is again advanced to move the high portion of the cam track beneath the lever 117 to again actuate the lever 100 and pawl 101 to advance the ratchet wheel 95 in single tooth steps.

During this stepped advance of the ratchet wheel 95, which continues for ten teeth, with the setting of knob 152 previously referred to, the members 150 and 151, which are in frictional engagement with each other and with the shaft 92 at this time, are also rotated with the ratchet wheel. As the last of the ten teeth is advanced by the pawl 101 the pin 146 on the flange 147 of member 150 is moved into engagement with the finger 143 (FIG. 9) to turn lever 136 clockwise to again open the switch 72 to deenergize the solenoid 65 thereby permitting spring 61) to turn lever 52 and camming surface 50 into the path of the pawl 35 (FIG. 2) to again limit the advance of the chain 21 to one-third link steps. Simultaneously with this movement of pin 146 to open switch '72 a high portion 195 of the flange 147 is moved beneath a pin 196 carried on the pawl 101, to lift the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 95, as shown in FIG. 9, to again stop the ratchet wheel. As will be understood during the ten tooth advancement of ratchet wheel 95 the pattern chain has been advanced through ten two-third link steps rather than the normal one-third link steps thereby in effect negating the action of three and one-third chain links.

Thereafter as the stocking knitting cycle continues through the remainder of the leg, the heel and into the foot, the chain continues to be advanced in one-third link steps in the normal manner. In the appropriate part of the course counting cycle of the chain controlling the formation of the foot of the stocking, the nose portion 131 of lever 117 drops into a second low point 186 in the cam track, during a move of the pattern drum 17, thereby permitting lever 117 to turn clockwise to its stopped position against the screw 190. At this time spring 191 again acts to turn lever 100 and pawl 101 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 9, through a two tooth resetting movement to disengage the pin 196 from the high portion 195 of the flange 147 and permit the pawl to again engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 95. Thereafter, when the roller 125 acts on the follower portion 122 to turn lever 117 counterclockwise, lever 100 and pawl 101 are moved counterclockwise to advance the ratchet wheel 95 a distance of two teeth to again start the ratchet wheel. During this two tooth movement of the ratchet wheel 95 the high portion 195 is moved out of the path of the pin 196 on pawl 101 and the pin 146 is removed from engagement with the finger 143 on the lever 136 thereby permitting the button 73 to move to its switch closing position to again energize and operate the solenoid 65 to remove camming surface 50 from the path of the pawl 35 and permit the pawl to again advance the chain in two-third link steps. Immediately following the two tooth advance of the ratchet wheel 95 as above set forth, a move of the pattern drum 17 again moves the high portion of the cam track beneath the nose portion 131 to position the lever 117 to advance the ratchet wheel 95 in single tooth steps.

During subsequent advance of ratchet wheel 95 and members 150 and 151 the switch 72 remains closed until, as determined by the setting of knob 176, the flange 175 on member 151 is moved into engagement with the finger 166 on the lever 157 to move the lever 136 and latch it in FIG. 2 to limit the advance of chain to one-third link steps. Following latching of the levers 136 and 157 in their switch opening position, pawl 101 continues to rotate the ratchet wheel to remove the flange 175 from engagement with the finger 166 on lever 157 and until the space 182 is again moved into position to idle the pawl 101 and stop the ratchet wheel. Simultaneously with the movement of space 182 beneath pawl 101 the pin on the ratchet wheel is moved into engagement with the finger 142 to move lever 136 slightly in a clockwise direction. This slight movement of the lever 136 by the pin 145 releases the shoulder 141 and surface on lever 157 from their latching engagement and permits spring 167 to again turn lever 157 to its stop position of FIG. 6. The lever 136 is then held in its switch opening position by the pin 145 until the pawl 101 is again moved as above set forth to start the ratchet wheel in the next stocking knitting cycle.

As hereinbefore set forth, the chain is initially provided with sufficient links 22 to form the courses required in a stocking having the longest leg length and the greatest foot size and when such stocking is to be knit the lever 52 must be maintained in its position of FIG. 2 to limit the advance of the chain to one-third link movements throughout the stocking knitting cycle. In order to maintain the switch 72 in open condition and the solenoid 65 de-energized the members 150 and 151 are adjusted to their zero positions relative to the shaft 92 and ratchet wheel 95. In this position of the members 151) and 151, pin 146 on member 150 is aligned with the pin 145 on the ratchet wheel 95 and both pins are in engagement with their associated fingers to hold the lever 136 in the switch opening position of FIG. 6. Also at this time the high portion 195 on the member 150 is beneath the pin 196 to disengage the pawl 101 from the ratchet wheel 95, as shown in FIG. 9 and the high surface of the flange on the member 151 is positioned immediately adjacent to finger 166 on the lever 157. With the parts in these positions, when the pawl 101 is actuated to start rotation of the ratchet wheel 95 under the control of the pattern drum 17, as above set forth, both the space 182 and the high portion on the member 150 are moved out of the path of the pawl. At this time the pin 145 in the ratchet wheel and the pin 146 on the member 151) are also moved out of engagement with fingers 142 and 143 on the lever 136 and simultaneously the high surface of flange 175 on the member 151 is moved into engagement with the finger 166 on the lever 157 to move it to latching engagement with the lever 136 to maintain the latter in its switch opening position. The pawl 101 then continues to idly rotate the ratchet wheel 95 and members 150 and 161 until they are again in starting position. Inasmuch as the lever 117 is given two starting movements of two teeth under the control of the pattern drum 17 during each stocking knitting cycle as *hereinbefore set forth, each starting movement will merely institute a complete rotative cycle of the ratchet wheel during which the switch 72 is maintained in open condition at all times. Alternatively, the solenoid 65 may be maintained de-energized throughout the stocking knitting cycle without disturbing a previous setting of the members 150 and 151 by providing a manually operated switch 200 to open the circuit through conductors 7t) and 71, as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be understood that the improvement specifically shown and described by which the above described results are obtained can be changed in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circular knitting machine having a course counting chain for controlling the formation of stocking fabrics on said machine, means for advancing said chain through a course counting cycle during the formation of each stocking fabric, and control means for said advancing means including a member having a first position for causing said chain to be advanced by said advancing means in steps of one extent and a second position for causing said advancing means to advance said chain in steps of another extent, a first means for normally moving said member to said first position, a second means for moving said member to said second position, and adjustable means independent of the chain for controlling operation of said second moving means to move said member from said first position to said second position.

2. In a machine according to claim 1 in which said chain has a plurality of interconnected links, and said steps of one extent are one-third link steps and said steps of another extent are two-third link steps.

3. In a machine according to claim 2 in which said second moving means includes a solenoid, and means for energizing said solenoid to move said member to said second position, and said adjustable means for controlling operation of said second means includes means for deenergizing said energizing means.

4. In a machine according to claim 3 in which said means for energizing said solenoid comprises an electrical circuit and a normally closed switch and said means for de-energizing said energizing means includes means for opening said switch to deenergize said solenoid.

5. In a machine according to claim 4 in which said adjustable means also includes means for operating said switch opening means to open said switch for varying intervals.

6. In a machine according to claim 5 in which said means for operating said switch opening means to open said switch for said varying intervals includes a first member for operating said switch opening means, means for rotating said first member, a second member adjustable relative to and rotatable with said first member for operating said switch opening means, and a third member adjustable relative to and rotatable with said first and second members for operating said switch opening means.

7. In a machine according to claim 6 in which said first, second and third members are rotated through a complete cycle by said rotating means during each course counting cycle of said chain.

8. In a machine according to claim 3 in which said adjustable means includes a first rotatable member, a second member rotatable with said first member, a third member rotatable with said first member, and means for rotating said first, second and third members to engage and operate said switch opening means to open said switch at intervals during each course counting cycle of said chain.

9. In a machine according to claim 7 in which said second and third members are adjustable relative to said first member and relative to each other to vary the extent of the intervals between the operation of said switch opening means by said first, second and third members.

10. In a machine according to claim 8 in which said switch is closed to energize said solenoid to move said member to said second position in the interval between the operation of said switch opening means by said first and second members and in the interval between the operation of said switch opening means by said second and third members to open said switch.

11. In a machine according to claim 10 in which said first member comprises a toothed ratchet wheel having means for engaging and operating said switch opening means to open said switch, and said rotating means comprises a pawl for acting on the teeth of said ratchet wheel, and means for operating said pawl to rotate said ratchet wheel.

12. In a machine according to claim 11 in which said ratchet wheel is provided with an idling space for engagement with said pawl to stop said ratchet wheel when said it) means on said ratchet wheel is in engagement with said switch operating means to open said switch.

13. In a machine according to claim 12 in which said second member is provided with means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet wheel to stop said ratchet Wheel when said second member is in enagagement with said switch opening means to open said switch.

14. In a machine according to claim 13 in which said pawl operating means operates said pawl to normally rotate said ratchet wheel in single tooth steps and there is means acting on said pawl operating means to operate said pawl to advance said ratchet wheel a distance of two teeth to remove sai-d idling space from engagement with said pawl to permit said pawl to rotate said ratchet wheel in said single tooth steps, said last mentioned means also acting on said pawl operating means to advance said ratchet wheel a distance of two teeth to remove said disengaging means on said second member from engagement with said pawl to permit said pawl to rotate said ratchet wheel in said single tooth steps.

15. In a mahine according to claim 14 in which said means on said ratchet wheel is removed from engagement with said switch operating means during said first mentioned two tooth advancing movement of said ratchet wheel to permit said switch to close and operate said second means to move said member to said second position until said second member operates said switch opening means to open said switch and said second mem ber is removed from engagement with said switch operating means during said second mentioned two tooth advancing movement of said ratchet wheel to permit said switch to close and operate said second means to move said member to said second position until said third member operates said switch opening means to open said switch.

16. In a machine according to claim 15 in which said switch opening means includes a first lever, and a second lever, said first lever being moved by said means on said ratchet wheel and said second member to open said switch and said second lever being operated by said third member to move said first lever to open said switch.

17. In a machine according to claim 16 in which said second lever also acts to latch said first lever in its switch opening position and said second lever is released from said first lever when said means on said ratchet wheel engages said first lever.

18. In a circular knitting machine having a course counting chain for controlling the knitting of stocking fabrics on said machine, and means for advancing said chain through a course counting cycle during knitting of each stocking fabric, in combination with means for controlling said chain advancing means including a member having a first position for causing said chain to be advanced by said advancing means in steps of one extent and a second position for causing said chain to be advanced by said advancing means in steps of another extent, a first means for moving said member to said first position, a second means for moving said member to said second position, a normally closed switch for energizing said second means to move said member to said second position, means for opening said switch to deenergize said second means to permit movement of said member by said first means to said first position, a first rotatable member, means on said rotatable member for engaging and operating said switch opening means to open said switch, means for rotating said first rotatable member to disengage said means thereon from said switch opening means to permit said switch to close to energize said second means, a second member rotatable with said first rotatable member for engaging and operating said switch opening means to open said switch, said second member being disengaged from said switch closing means to permit said switch to close and energize said second means during continued rotation thereof with said first rotatable member, a third member rotatable with said first rotatable member for 1 l engaging and operating said switch opening means to open said switch, and means associated with said third member and operable thereby to latch said switch opening means in switch opening position until said means on said first rotatable member is in engagement with said switch opening means.

19. In a circular knitting machine having a course counting chain with a plurality of interconnected links for controlling the knitting of stocking fabrics on said machine, and means for advancing said chain through a course counting cycle during knitting of each stocking fabric, in combination with means for controlling said ichain advancing means including a member, first means for moving said member to a first position to cause said chain to be advanced by said advancing means in onethird link steps, second means for moving said member to a second position to cause said chain to be advanced in two-third link steps, energizing means for operating said second means to move said member to said second position, and means for de-energizing said energizing means to permit movement of said member to said first position by said first moving means, said de-energizing means including a rotatable member, a first element on said rotatable member for operating said de-energizing means, a second element rotatable with said rotatable member for operating said de-energizing means, a third element rotatable with said rotatable member for operating said deenergizing means, and means for rotating said rotatable member to cause said first, second and third elements to operate said deenergizing means during each course counting cycle of said chain.

20. In a machine according to claim 19 in which said second means is operated by said energizing means to move said member to said second position in the interval between the operation of said de-energizing means by said first and second elements and in the interval between the operation of said de-energizing means by said second and third members.

21. In a machine according to claim 20 in which said second and third elements are adjustable to positions relative to said first element and relative to each other to vary the intervals of operation of said energizing means be tween the operation of said de-energizing means by said first and second elements and between the operation of said de-energizing means by said second and third elements.

22. In a machine according to claim 20 in which said second means is operated by said energizing means in the interval between the operation of said de-energizing means by said first and second elements in the portion of said course counting cycle of said chain controlling knitting of the leg portion of said stocking fabric, and said second means is operated by said energizing means in the interval between the operation of said de-energizing means by said second and third elements in the portion of said course counting cycle of said chain controlling the knitting of the foot portion of said stocking fabric.

23. In a machine according to claim 21 in which said second and third elements are adjustable to positions relative to said first element and relative to each other to cause said first, second and third elements to operate said de-energizing means to open said switch throughout a course counting cycle of said chain.

24. In a circular knitting machine having a course counting chain for controlling knitting of stocking fabrics on said machine, means for advancing said chain through a course counting cycle during knitting of each stocking fabric, means for controlling operation of said advancing means including a plurality of adjustable members, and means for operating said controlling means through a complete operating cycle during each course counting cycle of said chain, said adjustable members being adjustable to first adjusted positions relative to each other to cause said advancing means to advance said chain in steps of one extent throughout a course counting cycle of said chain, and said adjustable members being adjustable to second adjusted positions relative to each other to cause said advancing means to advance said chain in steps of saidone extent in portions of another course counting cycle of said chain and to advance said chain in steps of another extent in other portions of said last mentioned course counting cycle of said chain.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,214,936 9/1940 Pingel 66l 2,829,510 4/1958 Shelby 66155 3,139,742 7/1964 Lewis 66-155 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A COURSE COUNTING CHAIN FOR CONTROLLING THE FORMATION OF STOCKING FABRICS ON SAID MACHINE, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID CHAIN THROUGH A COURSE COUNTING CYCLE DURING THE FORMATION OF EACH STOCKING FABRIC, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID ADVANCING MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER HAVING A FIRST POSITION FOR CAUSING SAID CHAIN TO BE ADVANCED BY SAID ADVANCING MEANS IN STEPS OF ONE EXTENT AND A SECOND POSITION FOR CAUSING SAID ADVANCING MEANS TO ADVANCE SAID CHAIN IN STEPS OF ANOTHER EXTENT, A FIRST MEANS FOR NORMALLY MOVING SAID MEMBER FOR SAID FIRST POSITION, A SECOND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER TO SAID SECOND POSITION, AND ADJUSTABLE MEANS INDEPENDENT OF THE CHAIN FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF SAID SECOND MOVING MEANS TO MOVE SAID MEMBER FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION. 